Content available exclusively for subscribers
Social media . . .
. . . can be a dangerous place.
It can damage careers.
For the sake of Jets cornerback Arthur Maulet, he can only hope his post on Instagram on Sunday doesn’t hurt him with the team’s GM.
Maulet, a journeyman cornerback, who got a chance to start six games for the Jets last season, decided to chime in on the Jamal Adams’ contract dispute with the Jets.
“Pay Da Man So We Can Get Back To Work! My Mf Bruddah. We Got Dubs To Get,” Maulet posted on Instagram.
“Bruddah” is a variation of “brother.” “Dubs” is another way to say “wins.” As for “MF,” I’d say that is pretty self-explanatory.
It’s might be somewhat surprising that a player still trying to establish himself in the NFL, after bouncing around on several teams and practice squads, would say such a thing to his bosses.
But then again, nothing on social media should surprise anyway.
Some might say that Maulet should “stay in his lane,” but a lot of people don’t on social media. Social media includes platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
“We are raising a country that is totally controlled by social media,” long-time sportswriter Jason Whitlock said recently.
For Maulet’s sake, he can only hope Joe Douglas doesn’t hold this against him when he’s making personnel decisions. The Jets have such a need a cornerback, that if Maulet can help them, Douglas probably won’t hold it against him.
And he probably meant no harm. People get very emotional on social media, and hit the send button sometimes, perhaps before thinking it through.
But another interesting aspect to this story is what Adams said in response to Maulet. According to USA Today’s Jets Wire, Adams said he believed in Maulet when “they” didn’t.
Once again, another salvo from Adams towards the team on social media. There have been many. The carpet-bombing continues.
Not entirely sure what he meant by saying the Jets didn’t believe in Maulet. Maybe Adams is referring to when the corner was sent down to the practice squad for a few games last year.
If they didn’t believe in him, wouldn’t they have just waive him and not re-signed him to their practice squad?
Maulet is the kind of guy who is easy to root for. He’s overcome so much in his life, growing up in New Orleans’ impoverished 9th Ward, and then having to relocate to Michigan when his family’s home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
After all he’s been through, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and with tremendous toughness. He’s an unflinching tackler.
But the reason he has been a bubble player is his speed, which isn’t ideal for a corner. He ran a 4.62 forty at the 2017 combine, which was tied for worst among cornerbacks.
While he plays with a lot of heart, he sometimes struggles staying in the hip pocket of speedy receivers. A transition to safety might not be a bad idea.
And it also might not be a bad idea to stay out of the Adams’ fiasco, no matter how close he is with the safety.
It’s not an ideal business decision.
July 1, 2020
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.